U.S. patent application number 11/191648 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-09 for improper-control detection system for driving support.
This patent application is currently assigned to DENSO Corporation. Invention is credited to Shinji Kamiya.
Application Number | 20060030984 11/191648 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35758460 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060030984 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kamiya; Shinji |
February 9, 2006 |
Improper-control detection system for driving support
Abstract
An improper-control detection system for driving support
consists of an in-vehicle detection system that is mounted in a
vehicle and a center device that is in a center and communicates
with the in-vehicle detection system. When the in-vehicle detection
system detects an improper-control operation that a driver conducts
during an automatic control that supports driving of the driver
based on an algorithm of a driving support system so as to change
to a manual control contrary to the automatic control, the
in-vehicle detection system sends to the center device
improper-control information that includes at least one of a time,
a position, a version of the driving support system, and a
determination value. The center device collects and analyzes the
improper-control information sent from the in-vehicle detection
system to then designate a cause of the improper-control
operation.
Inventors: |
Kamiya; Shinji;
(Kariya-city, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
DENSO Corporation
Kariya-city
JP
|
Family ID: |
35758460 |
Appl. No.: |
11/191648 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/31.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08G 1/166 20130101;
G08G 1/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/033 ;
701/029 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 6, 2004 |
JP |
2004-230811 |
Claims
1. An improper-control detection system for driving support, the
improper-control detection system comprising: an in-vehicle
detection system that is mounted in a vehicle; and a center device
that is in a center and communicates with the in-vehicle detection
system, wherein, when the in-vehicle detection system detects an
improper-control operation that a driver of the vehicle conducts
during an automatic control that supports driving of the driver
based on an algorithm of a driving support system so as to change
to a manual control contrary to the automatic control, the
in-vehicle detection system sends to the center device
improper-control information that includes at least one of a time,
a position, a version of the driving support system, and a
determination value, and wherein the center device collects and
analyzes the improper-control information sent from the in-vehicle
detection system to then designate a cause of the improper-control
operation.
2. The improper-control detection system of claim 1, wherein the
center device sends to the in-vehicle detection system an analysis
result obtained by collecting and analyzing the improper-control
information, and wherein the in-vehicle detection system reflects
the analysis result sent from the center device on the driving
support system.
3. The improper-control detection system of claim 1, wherein the
center device stores an analysis result obtained by collecting and
analyzing the improper-control information in a form so that the
analysis result is able to be reflected on the driving support
system.
4. An in-vehicle detection system that is mounted in a vehicle and
included in an improper-control detection system for driving
support along with a center device that is in a center, wherein the
in-vehicle detection system and the center device communicate with
each other, the in-vehicle detection system comprising: a detecting
unit that detects an improper-control operation that a driver of
the vehicle conducts during an automatic control that supports
driving of the driver based on an algorithm of a driving support
system so as to change to a manual control contrary to the
automatic control; and a sending unit that sends to the center
device improper-control information that includes at least one of a
time, a position, a version of the driving support system, and a
determination value when the improper-control operation is
detected.
5. A center device that is in a center and included in an
improper-control detection system for driving support along with an
in-vehicle detection system mounted in a vehicle, wherein, when the
in-vehicle detection system detects an improper-control operation
that a driver of the vehicle conducts during an automatic control
that supports driving of the driver based on an algorithm of a
driving support system so as to change to a manual control contrary
to the automatic control, the in-vehicle detection system sends to
the center device improper-control information that includes at
least one of a time, a position, a version of the driving support
system, and a determination value, the center device comprising: a
collecting unit that collects and analyzes the improper-control
information sent from the in-vehicle detection system; and a
designating unit that designates a cause of the improper-control
operation.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on and incorporates herein by
reference Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-230811 filed on Aug.
6, 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an improper-control
detection system for driving support. The system includes an
in-vehicle detection system and a center device, both of which are
able to communicate with each other. The present invention further
relates to the in-vehicle detection system and the center
device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Automating vehicle controls has been recently remarkably
developing. A driving support system is one of the automated
vehicle control systems to support driver's driving. The driving
support system photographs white lines of lanes or measures
distances with following vehicles to thereby automatically control
a steering device, a brake device, or an accelerator device. A load
of the driver thereby decreases.
[0004] This kind of driving support systems needs to newly develop
algorithms for enhancing its functions. The newly-developed
algorithms may include defects having dangerousness to cause
vehicular accidents, so the algorithms need verifications under
factual vehicle traveling in various conditions. One of the
verifications under factual vehicle traveling is described in
JP-H7-6896 U.
[0005] This verification is conducted by only an automobile
manufacturer, so the verification has temporal, personnel, or
physical restrictions. Consequently, the algorithms are developed
without sufficiently reflecting actual performances in fields where
users actually use the algorithm or the driving support system. The
enhancement of functions in the driving support systems is not
sufficiently achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improper-control detection system for driving support, an
in-vehicle detection system, and a center device, each of which is
able to achieve developments of new algorithms by reflecting actual
performances in fields that users actually use and to achieve
enhancement of functions in the algorithms.
[0007] To achieve the above object, an improper-control detection
system for driving support is provided with the following: An
in-vehicle detection system mounted in a vehicle is included. A
center device in a center is included to communicate with the
in-vehicle detection system. When the in-vehicle detection system
detects an improper-control operation that a driver of the vehicle
conducts during an automatic control that supports driving of the
driver based on an algorithm of a driving support system so as to
change to a manual control contrary to the automatic control, the
in-vehicle detection system sends to the center device
improper-control information that includes at least one of a time,
a position, a version of the driving support system, and a
determination value. The center device collects and analyzes the
improper-control information sent from the in-vehicle detection
system to then designate a cause of the improper-control
operation.
[0008] If a driving support system is able to achieve an accurate
control response by sufficiently studying usage conditions where
drivers use the driving support system, the drivers may need no
additional operations. The present invention focuses on a
possibility: drivers may operate for changing to a manual control
contrary to an automatic control in a case where an algorithm of a
driving support system has insufficiently studied usage conditions
where the drivers use the driving support system. Under the
structure of the present invention, an improper-control information
obtained because of a driver's improper-control operation is sent
to the center device, so that enhancement of the driving support
system can be eventually achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description made with reference to the accompanying
drawings. In the drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an overall structure of an
improper-control detection system for driving support according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing of the
improper-control detection system for driving support; and
[0012] FIGS. 3, 4 are flowchart diagrams showing processes of an
in-vehicle detection system and a center device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] An improper-control detection system 1 for driving support
according to an embodiment of the present invention will be
explained below. As shown in FIG. 1, the improper-control detection
system 1 includes an in-vehicle detection system 5 to 7 mounted in
a vehicle 2 to 4, and a center device 9 in a center 8.
[0014] The in-vehicle detection system 5 to 7 connects with a
network 13 to communicate via the network 13 with outsides using an
in-vehicle wireless terminal 10 to 12. The network 13, here, is a
wide-area wireless network having an infrastructure with a base
station 14a to 14c and a communication-line control device 15, as
shown in FIG. 1; however, the network 13 can be a small-area (or
dedicated short range) wireless network having an infrastructure
with a roadside device and a wireless LAN system. Furthermore, the
network 13 can be a combination of the wide-area network and the
small-area network.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a structure of the in-vehicle detection system
5 (as a representative of the in-vehicle detection systems 5 to 7)
and the center device 9 by using a functional block diagram. The
in-vehicle detection system 5 includes a driving support system 16,
a user operation detecting device 17, an improper-control detecting
device 18, an improper-control information informing device 19, an
analysis result informing device 20, and a GPS receiver 21.
[0016] The driving support system 16 includes an automatic driving
control device 22, a steering sensor 24 that detects operation of a
steering device 23, a brake sensor 26 that detects operation of a
brake device 25, an accelerator sensor 28 that detects an
accelerator device 27, a speed sensor 29 that detects a vehicle
speed, an in-vehicle camera 30 that photographs surroundings of the
vehicle 2, a millimeter radar 31 that measures a distance to a
following vehicle.
[0017] The automatic driving control device 22 analyzes various
detection signals or measurement signals from the sensors or the
like 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31 and then conducts an automatic driving
control by controlling the devices 23, 25, 27 based on an algorithm
stored in its storage area.
[0018] The user operation detecting device 17 detects an
improper-control operation by a driver based on an output signal.
The improper-control operation means an operation that a driver
conducts during an automatic control of the driving support system
16 for changing to a manual control contrary to the automatic
control. The output signal is outputted from the steering device 23
to the steering sensor 24, from the brake device 25 to the brake
sensor 26, or from the accelerator device 27 to the accelerator
sensor 28.
[0019] When any one of a steering system, a brake pedal, and an
accelerator pedal is operated by the user or the driver contrary to
the automatic control of the driving support system 16, the above
output signal varies in its output states from that during the
automatic control. This variation is detected by the user operation
detecting device 17 to detect whether the above improper-control
operation is conducted by the user for changing to a manual control
contrary to an automatic control of the driving support system 16.
When the user operation detecting device 17 detects the
improper-control operation of the user, the user operation
detecting device 17 outputs an operation detection signal to the
improper-control detecting device 18.
[0020] When the improper-control detecting device 18 receives the
operation detection signal, the improper-control detecting device
18 obtains from the automatic driving control device 22 a version
of the driving support system 16 (a version of an algorithm) and a
detection value (a parameter necessary for the automatic control)
to then output them the improper-control information informing
device 19. The GPS receiver 21 demodulates GPS radio waves sent
from GPS satellites and obtains a time (absolute time) and a
position of the vehicle 2 to then output the obtained time and
position to the improper-control information informing device
19.
[0021] When the improper-control information informing device 19
receives the time and the position of the vehicle 2 from the GPS
receiver 21 and the version of an algorithm and the detection value
from the improper-control detecting device 18, the improper-control
information informing device 19 sends those information as
improper-control information to the center device 9 via the network
13 from the in-vehicle wireless terminal 10. Thereafter, when the
wireless terminal 10 receives an analysis result via the network 13
from the center device 9, the wireless terminal 10 sends it to the
analysis result informing device 20. The analysis result informing
device 20 then outputs it to the automatic driving control device
22.
[0022] In contrast, the center device 9 includes an
improper-control information receiving device 32, an
improper-control information analyzing device 33, an analysis
result sending device 34, and an analysis result storing device 35.
The improper-control information receiving device 32 receives the
improper-control information via the network 13 from the in-vehicle
detection system 5. The improper-control information analyzing
device 33 then analyzes the improper-control information received
from the improper-control information receiving device 32 to
thereby designate a cause of the improper-control operation by the
user for changing to the manual control. The analysis result
sending device 34 sends the analysis result obtained from the
improper-control information analyzing device 33 to the in-vehicle
detection system 5. The analysis result storing device 35 stores
the analysis result obtained by the improper-control information
analyzing device 33 in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a
memory card.
[0023] Next, the function of the above structure will be explained
with reference to FIGS. 3. 4 that show flows of processes in the
in-vehicle detection system 5 and the center device 9.
[0024] If the driving support system 16 is able to achieve an
accurate control response by sufficiently studying usage conditions
where drivers use the driving support system, the drivers may need
no additional operations. In contrast, when the driving support
system 16 insufficiently studies usage conditions where drivers use
the driving support system, drivers may operate for changing to a
manual control contrary to an automatic control of the driving
support system 16. For instance, if a vehicle travels by an
automatic control without crossing over white lines of lane markers
while the automatic driving support system 16 conducts an automatic
control, a user or a driver conducts no additional operations for
the steering system. In contrast, when the vehicle crosses over the
white lines, the user needs to operate the steering system contrary
to the automatic control of the driving support system 16 so as to
secure safety of the user.
[0025] Back to FIG. 3, at Step S1, the in-vehicle detection system
5 determines whether an improper-control operation by a user is
detected by the user operation detecting device 17. When this
determination is affirmed (YES at Step S1), at Step S2
improper-control information is obtained using the improper-control
information informing device 19; the improper-control information
includes a time and a vehicle position at this moment, a version of
the driving support system 16, and a determination value. Then, at
Step S3, the improper-control information is sent to the center
device 9 from the in-vehicle wireless terminal 10.
[0026] Next, at Step T1, the center device 9 receives the
improper-control information; then at Step T2, the center device 9
analyzes the received improper-control information in the
improper-control information analyzing device 33 to thereby at Step
T3 designate a cause of the improper-control operation by the user.
Here, analyzing to designate the cause can be conducted based on
improper-control information from a single in-vehicle detection
system 5. Furthermore, analyzing to designate the cause can be
conducted statistically based on improper-control information from
multiple in-vehicle detection systems 5 to 7. Then, at Step T4 the
center device 9 sends the analysis result to the in-vehicle
detection system 5 from the analysis result sending device 34.
[0027] Next, at Step S4, the in-vehicle detection system 5 receives
the analysis result in the wireless terminal 10 via the network 13;
then, at Step S5, the in-vehicle detection system 5 updates
partially or entirely the algorithm of the driving support system
16 according to the analysis result to thereby reflect the analysis
result on the automatic driving control device 22 of the driving
support system 16.
[0028] In the above structure of the process, the center device 9
sends the analysis result to the in-vehicle detection system 5
promptly. However, it can be alternatively designed as shown at
Step T11 in FIG. 4. Here, the analysis result is stored by the
analysis result storing device 35 in a storage medium in a form so
that the analysis result can be reflected on the driving support
system 16. In this case, the analysis result stored in the storage
medium is reflected via an operator of an automobile manufacturer
or a sales shop on the driving support system 16 at developing the
next product or at inspecting vehicles.
[0029] According to thus explained embodiment of an
improper-control detection system 1 for driving support, the
following takes place: When a user or a driver operates for
changing to a manual control, contrary to an automatic control of a
driving support system 16 based on a given algorithm, an in-vehicle
detection system 5 sends improper-control information including a
time and a vehicle position at this moment, a version of the
driving support system 16, and a detection value to a center device
9. The center device 9 receives this improper-control information
and collects to analyze it to thereby designate a cause of the
improper-control operation by the user. Therefore, the algorithm
can be developed by being sufficiently reflected on actual
performances under fields where users use the driving support
system 16, which can significantly achieve enhancement of functions
in the driving support system 16.
[0030] Furthermore, the center device 9 sends the analysis result
to the in-vehicle detection system 5; the in-vehicle detection
system 5 thereby reflects the analysis result on the driving
support system 16. Therefore, even when the algorithm of the
driving support system 16 has insufficiently studied usage
conditions of users, the improper-control detection system 1
according to the embodiment can promptly respond to the problem of
the algorithm. The service to users can be thereby enhanced.
[0031] (Other Modifications)
[0032] The improper-control information can be otherwise include
any information relating to images of surroundings of the subject
vehicle photographed by the in-vehicle camera, distances to
following vehicles or preceding vehicles measured by the millimeter
radar, vehicle speeds detected by the speed sensor, steering
angles, and various operating states of a traction control system
or an ABS system. Furthermore, when a weather condition including
temperatures can be obtained, the improper-control information can
include the weather condition at this moment. Furthermore, means
for detecting the improper-control operation can be not only the
steering, the brake, or the accelerator, but also an On-Off switch
of the driving support system, an operation of a transmission, an
operation of a headlight, or changing a setting value of the
driving support system by a user.
[0033] It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various
changes may be made in the above-described embodiments of the
present invention. However, the scope of the present invention
should be determined by the following claims.
* * * * *